Chapter 90— Needle in the Wool
But for years afterwards, whenever she thought of her initial admonition, she felt it was an irony. Later, she also wished for that kind of intimacy, but was unable to get it. She often heard people talk about it, and there was a lot of joy and laughter in Lanxiao Court.
An Zhongtao looked at the blush on his wife's face. Remembering the time when she was newly married, he could not help but say, " Are you tired, I will immediately send someone to bring the sedan!
Lian Jinyu laughed, "I'm not very old! Still, I'm not afraid of being laughed at. It just happens that my legs are a little cramped from the carriage ride, so I'll do some exercise!"
"Then you be careful!"An Zhongtao was still holding her in his arms. Lian Jinyu felt this deep feeling they are having now is really good. It is no longer the intimacy of a young couple. But more like they can rely on each other to weather through the storms together!
An Qingran upon seeing her father and mother being like this, couldn't help but smile so big that her mouth stretched from ear to ear. Her beautiful little face was even brighter. This made An Yanran's heart bitter. How did this happen? Haven't seen her for more than a month and yet she is still bright and beautiful? Could Yuehua Temple's water be good for people?
Don't know how they came up with a cunning plan to leave home. Which, by the way, not only did they leave but also prayed for good fortune. Father is also convinced by them!
I didn't believe it at all. Sure enough, according to my own words came back. They have come back from this journey, but they've changed completely, and I don't know if Mother can win Father's heart again!
It looked like it won't be easy.
She thought this in her heart, but with a smile on her face she went forward and said affectionately, "Mother, Jiejie, it is so good that you are back. Mother, I have been worrying about you all the time, and it makes my heart very uncomfortable to think of you abstaining from eating and praying for blessings outside and enduring hardship!"
Lian Jinrong also stepped forward and spoke to Lian Jinyu, "Jiejie has come back without informing meimei, Else meimei would love to prepare a grand welcome for jiejie!"
Lian Jinyu isn't a mean person, although so many things happened, she still nodded her head and said: "To pick me up, there's no need. I'm just returning to my own home, besides I don't have that much luggage anyways."
She was speaking from the bottom of her heart, but to the ears of those who were interested, every word was like a stabbing needle, stabbing in their hearts, feeling the pain!
An Qingran laughed.
Mother has made some progress.
Lian Jinrong's face changed a few times, but still squeezed out a smile: "But in the end, it is also considered to be away from home for so many days, Jiejie has suffered, besides, the other day also had a sickness, Meimei’s heart is really sad ......"
“That's right, yiniang always talks about mother and sister. This place doesn't feel like a home when you two aren't around, it's so quiet and desolate. To me, it's like there's no one to talk to..."An Yanran followed up with these words.
(ed. note: yiniang is a concubine mother, in case you didn't know.)
Contrary to what one might expect, An Mingxuan simply stepped forward and performed a salute, then quietly moved behind the others, without making a sound!
The reason behind him deciding not to speak was whenever he spoke, his second sister would always mock him, so he stayed silent.
"Yes, I also thought about meimei when I was at Yuehua Temple!"An Qingran calmly asked, "How's everything at home, meimei?"
"Jiejie didn't hold grudges!. Actually meimei had thought that jiejie would be annoyed when meimei was pointed out to her for pretending to be faint! Meimei was really confused and possessed, and unexpectedly did that kind of thing. When meimei returned to the General's Fu, she blamed herself very much. Thinking about all of jiejie's hard work outside was just for us, it's unreasonable for me not to appreciate it but actually spoiling it...In the end, Jiejie is older and knows more than meimei, if on the contrary, jiejie will not be so panicked when she encounters this matter ......"An Yanran said a lot of things, as if she was apologising or explaining, but in any case, she didn't let her words idle. It was probably just to say something to break the awkwardness and to try to make her forget her behaviour the other day.
An Qingran replied, "That is my duty. It's not something important to be remembered as a contribution to the General Fu's. If there is anything, it is not for us daughters alone to do, whether we can achieve success or establish a career. Therefore all we can do is to take care not to sully the General's Fu's reputation. Don't you agree, Meimei?"
An Yanran was stunned speechless. She did not expect that An Qingran would speak sharp words, gently reminding everyone of her recent actions.
She was so angry. She only wanted to show off her good behaviour at Fu's. Father also hasn't punished her. She tried to find a way to make her angry and lash back. But An Qingran didn't. Unexpectedly, she took her revenge. When did she learn to do that?
(ed. note= Fu means official residence)
She couldn't stay quiet and said, "Jiejie has spent a month in Yuehua Temple, I felt that you have improved a lot. But I couldn't catch up to jiejie. Meimei was hoping to get help and decided to go over later to ask jiejie to help me..."
An Qingran suddenly smiled, "Oh yes, I didn't mention this, but we also prayed for yiniang and meimei. When I was at Yuehua Temple, I didn't get a chance to talk with meimei properly. But when I woke up, I heard from Rendong that father sent meimei back to the General's Fu to be grounded. I was terribly worried, I didn't know how sad my meimei would be when she was locked up in the house, she hadn't suffered such an indignity before, so if she got angry, what would she do?"
An Yanran's heart was shocked, she was good at bringing up the matter of her being grounded. She and Yiniang were at home. How could she be grounded? She didn't know how happy she was every day, this time because grandmother was coming, they were a bit too happy, they had forgotten about this matter!
An Qingran mentioned this deliberately!
Sure enough, An Zhongtao coldly looked at her and asked, "Yes, how did you came out?"
An Yanran was panicking, but before she said anything, Lian Jinrong hurriedly said, "When Yanran came home, she realised her own mistakes, and I kept her grounded. I gave her lessons every day about etiquette, dare to contradict her jiejie. Even if something actually happened to An Qingran and is hiding it from us, she should at least keep the reputation of General's Fu as a priority. After all, we are a family...Yanran is regretting it now. And just heard that Qing Ran back, but she was eager to meet, I also then let her out ......"
An Qingran didn't believe what she said. No way yiniang kept her confined.
She would naturally help her daughter, nothing strange about that.
If it were my own mother, she would have done the same.
But didn't father recognize that she was deceiving him?
She's really worried about her father.
No wonder the General's Fu was utterly controlled by this mother and her two children! It ultimately made the future end look miserable.
As she thought of this and her heart couldn't help but feel resentful, "Yes, yiniang has really taken a lot of trouble during this period of time at home, it's really hard to take care of the General's Mansion so well."
Lian Jinrong smiled and said: "Where, this is what I should do. You all can bear the hardships for the General's Mansion. What should I be afraid of when I do something? In the end I'm still at home, everything is easy!"
